Cutting machine for spaghetti, macaroni, etc.



1937- N. J. CAVAGNAB O 2,103,317

CUTTING MACHINE FOR SPAGHETTI, MACARONI, ETC

Filed Feb. 16, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR N. J. CAVAGNARO CUTTING MACHINE FOR SPAGHETTI, MAc RoNI ETC Dec. 28, 1937.

Filed Feb. 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet s r/ 5 7. w, 4 w Z O o o 3 a H \31 i i n 7 W 3 H .U J 6 3 k r W r 0 QB W F 3 B i 7 Q 1/1: W

YINVENTOR MohsfCcrVa '"WZM ATTORNEY Dec. 28, 1937. N. J. CAVAGNARO 2,103,317

- CUTTING MACHINE FOR SPAGHETTI, MACARONI, ETC 7 Filed Feb. 16, 1935' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 2a a 5 /.5' If 54 M M [A I /6 7 \NVENTOR' MckoZaS JCZn agnarg,

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, ,1 937 UNITED STATES of New York ...lpp11a tn February 16'. 1935. Serial No. ms r 3 Claims. (01. 1o7 z1 7 o This invention relatesto improved means for cutting alimentary paste products, such as spaghetti, macaroni, etc., into' lengths suitablefor packaging; and the invention has reference, more particularly, to a cutting machineadaptedto rapidly and efllcientlyjcut the paste products without waste, discoloration or other undesirable effects.

This invention has for its principal object to provide a cutting machine adapted to cut, all sizes of paste products at high speed and to lengths to'suit aselected size of package; said machine being characterized by the possession of reciprocable cutting means together with means for producing, at will, the descending cut:- ting strokes thereof, and means to return the cutting means to normal initial position upon completion of the cutting operation.

This invention has'for a further obiect'to provide a novel arrangement of hydraulic means for actuating the cutting means of the machine, together with control means therefor.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated,.will be understood from the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel paste cutting machine according to this invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken on line 22 in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top end or plan view; Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is an enlarged ver- 5 tical sectional view ofthe control valve for the hydraulic cutter actuating means, taken on line [-5 in Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through said control valve, taken on line 6 -6 in Fig, 5; and Fig.7 is another horizontal section 40 through said-control valve, taken on line 1-1 in Fig. 5. a

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section of portions of the machine, to illustrate the functioning ofthe cutting blades thereof 5 upon the paste product submitted to the action thereof; and Fig. 9 isa fragmentary horizontal section, taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 8.

Similar characters of reference are employed in the above described views, to indicate corre- 50 sponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, the'reference character l0 indicates the table of the machine, the same'being supported by a suitable frame-work including legs Ii. Secured to'thetable and its- 55 frame work, to extend vertically upward there- PATENT was p from at each end thereof, are uprights or stand-' I ards i2. Secured .to and extendingbetween the,

upper ends of .said uprights, or, standards l2,.at

each side thereof, are cross beamsl3; Mounted upon said cross-beams l3,,soras to be supported thereby in suitable locations abovethe table 10.

are, a plurality ofhydraulically. operated ram mechanisms for actuating the cutter means of I the machine; aslshown infthe drawings there.

are two. such ram mechanisms A-and-B, the detail construction of which being the same,v a

description of onewill sumce for -both.-

1 The ram mechanism may be variously designed and constructed, but according to the illustrative embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings, may each comprise the following general construction and arrangement..- Extending crosswise beneath the cross-beams l3, and secured in place by hanger bolts ll depending. from hanger straps l5 which bridge across the topsof said cross-beams I3, isa base plate l0. This base plate i6 is provided with a centrally disposed internally screw-threadedopening ll into which is threaded the lower end of a ram cylinder IS.

The ram cylinder it extends vertically upward between the cross-beams IS. A topplate i9 is provided with a centrally disposed internally screw-threaded opening 2|! into which the upper end of said ramcylinder il-isthreaded. The 1 upper end of the'ram cylinder i8 is closed by a top cylinder head 2 i, which may be bolted down tothe top plate IS. The lower end of the ram cylinder i8 is closed bya bottom cylinder head- 22,.which' is preferablythreaded onto the cylinder end. Slidable in said cylinder, with its lower end extending downwardlythrough. a way therefor providedin the bottom cylinder head, I

is a ram 23 havingat its upper end a piston-head 7 24 to fit the bore of said cylinder. Secured to the lower exterior fend ofthe ram 23'by a suitable coupling connection or holder 25 isv a cutter blade 26, disposed transversely relative to the table Hi. This cutter blade 26 isiprovided at'its lower free margin with a sultablecutting edge 21;

Extending perpendicularly parallel to the ram cylinder l8, respectively at opposite sides there-' r of, are a pair of tubular housings 28, having their lower ends suitably aillxed through and to the base plate l6. These housings, 28 extend upwardly through the top plate l9. Extending slidably through bores 29 of reduced diametenwith which the lower end portions of said housings 28 are provided, are slide-rods'jil, which respectively extend axially through the interiors of said housings 2,8, and whichare provided at'their upper free ends with enlarged stop or abutment which leads to the ram cylinder ll of the hyheads 3|. Surrounding said slide-rods 30 withdraulic ram mechanism A, the same being conin the housings 28 are compression springs 32, the nected with the upper end of said ram cylinder, Same having their lower ends footed on the shoulso as to deliver actuating fluid thereinto. Also der 33 at the juncture of the bores 29 with the providedin the lower end of said valve casing is a 5 housing interiors, and their upperv ends ensecond delivery port 62 which also opens into the gaged with the stops or abutment heads 3|., At bottom of'the valve chamber beneath the valve their exterior lower ends, said slide-rods 30 are member 5| Communicating with the outer end provided with coupling elements 34 for engagof this second delivery port 62 is a delivery coning the upper portion of the cutter blade 26 thereduit or piping 63 which leads to the ram cylinder 10 to. Extending in opposite directionsfrom said ll of the hydraulic ram mechanism B, the same coupling elements 34, so as to overhang opposite .being connected with the upper end of this ram side faces of the cutter bladec26 are perforate. cylinder, so as todeliver actuating fluid thereinto. lugs through which SIidabIYJeXteHd, S s to Formed in the bottom of the valve member 5| is a q l5 depend therefrom by abutmentof theirheads 35 retur toy-pass as ag 64, whi h communicates 5 th r w t suspen i n ds 3 Th susp ns through a branch passage 65 with the return port rods on the respective sides of the cutter blade 53. When the valve member 5| occupies its norare engaged with and support clamp bars 38, mal initial position, the valve port 51 is in comwhich are thus dispo ed resp ctiv ly along the munication with the return port 58, and the byopposite faces of the cutter blade and parallel pas passage 64 is in communication with both the 20 thereto. 7 a l v delivery port 50 and the delivery port 82; as shown Themeans for supplying operating fluid to the in-FigIl; The hand lever 55 for manipulating'the rain-cylinders It! comprises the following devices. valve member 5| is providedtvith'a yieldable latch Secured to' the table frame work, to extend bearm (having means atits free end to engage neath the table I0, is a platform'39. Secured to with stop-sockets 51 provided on the exterior of 26 the underside of this platform is a fluidsupply the valve casing to yleldabiy hold 'the valve 5| in tank or reservoir 40. Mountedon the platform 39 any selected position to which it maybemove'din is a pump 4|, preferably of the rotary type, and use. d

adapted tobe directly driven by'an electric motor 77 If desired a suitable Jguard rail ,68 may be se- 0 42 to which it is coupled. The intake side of this cured in extension between the uprights or'stand- 30 a pump 4| is provided with an intake pipe 43, the ards |2 to surround the cutter-blade edge portions, foot of which "extends into and is submerged in when said cutter blades occupyraiscd inactive or the fluid contained in the reservoir 40. The outlet normal positions. or discharge side of the pump 4| is connected by The table ||I isfprovlde'd with a longitudinal delivery conduit means or piping With the in-' backstop ledge or flange 59, {and similarly, across 36 take side of a control valve 45, which is affixed to one end thereof, with an end stop ledge or flange anupright or standard i2 at one side of the ma- Ill, against which boxes or trays containing the chine. Included in this deliveryconduit means paste to be cutrnay be abutted to'position such or piping 44 is a pressure relief valve 45 of any boxes "or trays and the content'thereof properly .40 suitable type or kind adapted to tripat a predebeneath the cutter blades of the machine, so that 40 termined fluid pressure, and thereby open an upon operation, the same may properly enter, a

' auxiliary et n p pe 41 leading back intothe tray or box and-engage the material therein with reservoir 40; thereby operating under certain condesired cutting effect. a

- ditions to automatically stop delivery of operating I mouse of the machine, a box or tray coni 45 d to the m ylinders through the d live taining the lengths of paste product 12 desired to 45 conduit means or piping, and thereupon by-passbe cut for packaging isplaced upon the table HI,

8 e P p discharged flu back to t 'e e so as to abut the back and end stop devices 69 and voir 40. T Y' Q 10, whereby the box or tray and its content are The control valve 45 includes a main casing properly aligned beneath the normally raised cut- 1 providing an internal chamber 48 having'a closed ting blades 25 ready for operation thereof. 50 bo to 49 a d an p D. SaId'ODen t D being The motor 42 ,being in operation, actuating closed by a cap 50 threaded to the casing or otherpower is transmitted therefrom to the pump 4|. wise secured thereto. Within said chamber 48 is When the control valve 45 has its valve member a rotatable valve member 5|; ha ing a stem 5 5| disposed in normal initial position, the valve extending axially through a stufling box 53 and port 51 is aligned in communication with the re- 55 cooperating gland 54 with which said cap 50 is turn port 58, and consequently the fluid delivered provided. Ailixed to the exteriorly projecting and Qhy th pump 4|, through the delivery piping 44 of said stem 52 is a manipulating lev 55 and port 5 6,'passes directly through the valve and which said valve member 5| may be rot ably ,back to the reservoir 40 through the return pip-f manipulated. Said valve casing is provided with ing 55. 60 an intake port 56 leading into said chamber 48, By turning the valve member 5| to register its and said delivery piping 44 is connected'to said port 51 with the delivery'port 60, the fluid devalve casing in communicatio-nwith said intake livered by the p'ump4| is directed through piping port 56. Said valve member 5| is provided with a 6| so as to enter the ram cylinder |8 of the by 5 valve port51. Provided in the lower end of said draulic ram mechanism A. The fluid thus devalve casing is a return port 58 which opens into livered, acting on the piston-head 24, drives the bottom of the valve chamber 48 beneath the downwardly the ram 23, thereby moving downvalve member 5|. Communicating with the outlet ward the cutting blade 26 carried thereby toward end of said return port 58 is a return conduit or and through the underlying paste product 12. As

7 piping 59 which extends back to the reservoir 40. the cutting blade descends, the clampsbars'38, Provided in the lower end of said valve casing is a which descend therewith, make contact with the delivery port 68 which opens into the bottom of paste product" so as to hold the same against the valve chamber 48 beneath the valve member movementunder the cutting action of the blade. 5|. Communicating with the outer end of said The descending movement of the cutting blade delivery port Gil-is a delivery conduit or iping 6! al a s j pa y d s nd ng move- 5 ment of the slide rods 30, whereby the springs 32 are compressed for purposes to be subsequently referred to.

The descent of the cutting blade of the ram mechanism A, shears through the paste product adjacent to the elbow ends of the latter, thus flrst severing such elbow ends from and thereby trim-- ming the lengths of the paste product. Upon completion of this cutting operation, the valve member 5! is turned to register its port 51 with the delivery port 62, whereby the fluid urged by the pump 4| is now diverted to and directed through the piping 83 leading to the cylinder of the hydraulic ram mechanism B, thus actuating the cutting blade of this latter mechanism to cut through the trimmed paste product intermediate the ends thereof, so as to produce lengths thereof suitable for packaging.

The turning of the valve member I to the last mentioned position, whereby the pump delivered fluid is conveyed to the hydraulic ram mechanism B, brings the by-pass passage 64 of said valve member 5! in communication with the delivery piping 6i of the previously actuated hydraulic ram'mechanism A, thus putting the cylinder of the latter in direct communication through the by-pass passage 84 with the return piping 89 leading back to the reservoir 40. When such communication is established, the compressed springs 32, acting'throughthe slide-rods l0. and cutting blade 26, operate to raise the ram 23 and piston-head 24 in the cylinder i8 so as to return the same, with the cutting blade, to normal initial uplifted position. As the ram 23 and its pistonhead 24 rise in the cylinder IS, the fluid contained in the latter is driven back through the piping ii and thence through the valve by-pass passage I! and return piping 58 to the reservoir 40.

In like manner, after actuation of the hydraulic ram mechanism B and the cutting blade thereof, when the valve member Si is returned to normal initial position, the delivery piping 63 will likewise be brought into communication. through the valve by-passpassage 64, with the return piping 58, so that the spring returned ram and piston of the hydraulic ram mechanism B will in turn be raised to normal initial position, with resultant return of the fluid employed for its previous actuation to the reservoir 40.

In the operation of either of the cutting blades, when the same reach the bottom of their cutting stroke, and further movement thereof is obstructed, the fluid pressure built up in the fluid delivery lines will, on attaining a predetermined ill maximum pressure, trip the relief valve 46, whereby the fluid discharged by the pump II will be directly returned to the reservoir 40 through the auxiliary return pipe 41. when the valve is' manipulated to discharge the fluidirom hydraulic ram mechanisms in the manner above described,

the pressure in the delivery lines will immediately drop to normal, and the relief valve will :resume its normal initial position wherein the auxiliary return pipe 41 is closed.

'Ihecut length of the paste product can be ing the cutting blades and their actuating means in conformity. to the lengths desired to be obtained; and it will also be understood, that the number of cutting blades and their actuating without departing from the scope of this invention. 1

" varied to suit'selected size of packages, by spaca It will'be obvious that many changes could .be I

made and many apparently widely differentem-f bodiments of this invention could be produced without departing from the scope thereof as de 20 fined in the claims appended hereto; consequently it is intended. that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in I claim:

-1'. In a machine for the purposes described have the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense. I- a draulically actuated and selectively operable,

cutter means adjustably mounted on said transverse frame portion for spacing the same according to lengths of cut material desired to be ob- I tained.

2. In a machine for the purposes described having asupportfor a tray containing the'material to be cut anda frame including a transverse po'rtion spaced above said support, a plurality of hydraulically actuated and successively operable cutter means adjustably mounted on said transverse frame portion for spacing the same according to lengths of cut material desired to be obtained; a

3. In a machine of the kind described having a support for a tray containing the material to be out and a frame including a transverse portion spaced above said support, a plurality of hydraulically actuated cutter means adjustably mounted on said transverse frame portion for spacing the same according to lengths of cut material desired to be obtained, and each cutter thereof.

means having spring 'means' for returning the same to normal initialposition after actuation f i NICHOLAS J. CAVAGNARO. 1 

